SIXTH SENSE
J-Rod says Burnley must forget horror of half-a-dozen home defeats and work hard for big twist
BURNLEY striker Jay Rodriguez has urged his team-mates to keep believing after they crashed to a record SIXTH successive Premier League home defeat.
Goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Tyrick Mitchell condemned the Clarets to yet another loss, their latest making them the first team in English top-flight history to lose their first six home fixtures of the season.
Schlupp’s first goal since April gave the Eagles a 22nd-minute lead after a horrible mistake from defender Jordan Beyer. And then defender Mitchell bagged his first goal since 2019, in injury time, to keep the Lancashire side deep in relegation trouble.
“We’re gutted, but we just need to stick together as a group, that’s the main thing,” said Rodriguez, who has 11 years of Premier League experience under his belt. “It’s important not to get too high or too low in these situations because if you do what you need to do – which is work hard, do everything for the team, and keep doing the right things – then hopefully it will turn around. I’ll not change from that and hopefully we don’t as a group.
“Throughout my career I’ve never got too high or too low, it’s something the manager has touched upon as well.
“As much as it feels low now, hopefully there’ll be many more games where we don’t feel hurt. Hopefully my experience can help some of the young players and hopefully I can be ready for whenever I’m needed.”
Rodriguez felt the scoreline flattered Palace. The 34-year-old added: “We know Palace are a good side but I thought we dominated the game. To lose 2-0 is obviously disappointing.
“But we’ve got to debrief now and try and pick positives from our performance, pick ourselves up and go again.
“Palace set up to do what they do and they’ve got good individuals, but in the Premier League you get punished.
“It’s a difficult one to take but the overall focus for us is sticking together and keep pushing forward.”
The hosts dominated for long periods but were crying out for a killer finish to give them a welcome boost after a torrid start to life back in the top flight following last year’s memorable Championship promotion.
But their challenge doesn’t get any easier with a tough trip to Arsenal on Saturday. No wonder their defender Vitinho looked so gutted (below).
“We have to go there and believe we can win or there’s no point turning up,” added Rodriguez (above).
“They’re a great side and have great players but we really need to put ourselves upon them, effect the game, and try and get three points. That’s what we’ll try and do.”
That’s a view shared by boss Vincent Kompany, who believes his struggling side are close to turning a corner despite a miserable start to life back in the Premier League.
The careless Clarets have leaked an alarming 30 goals in 11 league games this season and 18 in their six home games so far. But Belgian Kompany was much more encouraged with his side’s showing after a spirited performance. “We looked more like a team who have something to offer in this league,” said the former Manchester City skipper.
“If we keep playing like this we will get the rewards.
“It’s not supposed to be easy but it’s a way for us to learn at the moment.
“You put your hand in the fire, you get burnt, so from that you know you can’t put the hand in the fire anymore. That’s the process at the moment.”
Burnley have won only one of their 11 Premier League matches and are off bottom spot only on goal difference. They are odds-on at 10-11 to be relegated come May.